Graduate Course Descriptions

Seminar in Administrative Policy Making (PAD 6035) 3 creditsStudy of administrative discretion in the policy process with an emphasis on regulation and distribution. MPA core course.Public Administration and Public Policy (PAD 6036) 3 creditsA critical examination of the role of public administrators in setting the public agenda, formation of action strategies, execution of preferred action strategy, and evaluation of the impacts of the preferred strategy. MPA core course.

Democratic Values and Public Administration (PAD 6042) 3 credits An inquiry into the administrative state and its implications for democracy. MPA core course

Introduction to Public Administration (PAD 6053) 3 creditsAn analysis of the contemporary political, economic, and social institutions and processes in which the profession of public administration is practiced. MPA core course.

Visionary and Creative Management (PAD 6061) 3 creditsIntegration of imagination and rationality, technique, and humanities, in the context of business, public administration, and education.

Managerial Leadership in State and Local Government (PAD 6063) 3 creditsCovers fundamental managerial and leadership aspects of state and local governments. Explores personal, ethical, organizational, political, and legal dimensions of governance in state and local governments.

Images of Public Administration in Literature, Popular Culture, and Film (PAD 6065) 3 creditsPrerequisite: PAD 6053 or permission of instructorIntroduction to theory in public administration through the use of film, popular culture images, literature, and other media.

Organization and Administrative Behavior (PAD 6106) 3 creditsAnalysis of the formal, informal, and societal characteristics of complex human organizations. Use is made of standard theories of organizations as well as of their more contemporary variations. MPA core course.

Decision Making in the Public Sector (PAD 6135) 3 creditsCourse focuses on decision-making tools used in the public and nonprofit sectors. The tools are applied using case studies and projects.

Capstone Seminar in Public Administration (PAD 6139) 3 creditsCapstone Seminar: Combines administrative history with analysis of concrete situations in public administration. Portrays clash of forces, personalities, and issues in attempting solution to administrative problems. Typically taken in last or next to last semester. MPA core course.

Introduction to Nonprofit Management (PAD 6142) 3 creditsThe role of the nonprofit sector in a democracy and market economy; examination of historical, political, legal, ethical, and social environments in which nonprofit organizations operate; analysis of both theoretical and practical issues and problems faced by managers of nonprofit organizations.

Public Policy and Nonprofit Organizations (PAD 6143) 3 creditsThis course seeks to acquaint students with the theoretical and practical issues confronting nonprofit organizations. The course systematically examines the ways in which the public policy process both supports and regulates the activities of nonprofits and the ways in which nonprofits seek to affect public policy governing their behavior.

Governance in Nonprofit Organizations (PAD 6149) 3 creditsNonprofits are controlled by boards of directors. This course discusses the legal foundations for boards, their conventional roles and responsibilities, and the strategic planning processes to strengthen board leadership.

Organizational Change and Public Management (PAD 6154) 3 creditsSeminar focuses on several levels of change, their sources or causes, consequences, and implications for public management. MPA core course.

Legal and Ethical Issues in Nonprofit Organizations (PAD 6165) 3 creditsCourse is designed to examine in detail the legal issues confronting nonprofit corporations. Emphasis is on a review of the laws pertaining to nonprofits, focusing on structure, management, behavior, and accountability.

Human Resource Management for Nonprofits (PAD 6166) 3 creditsThe course examines both theoretical and practical issues and problems faced by managers of nonprofit organizations. It provides an overview of human resource management and legal strategies and practices necessary for the effective functioning of nonprofit organizations.

Public Finance and Policy Analysis (PAD 6205) 3 creditsThis course uses the theoretical and empirical tools of public finance to analyze public policy. The course is designed to show the strengths and weaknesses of government in the financing and operation of programs in major public policy areas.

Fundraising for Nonprofits (PAD 6206) 3 creditsThis course examines the history, principles, and practical application of resource and capital campaigns, and the ethical responsibilities among individuals, corporations, governments, and public donors.

Seminar in Public Budgeting Techniques (PAD 6227) 3 creditsStudy of public budgeting focusing on budgetary process and techniques such as performance budgeting, planned program budgeting, zero-based budgeting, and management by objectives. Major emphasis is on policy development and decision-making relating to budget decisions. MPA core course.

Financial Environment of the Public Sector (PAD 6230) 3 creditsPrerequisite: PAD 6227 or permission of instructorThis course examines the fundamental techniques of the financial analysis of public sector organizations.

Grants Writing (PAD 6233) 3 creditsPractical considerations in obtaining funds for delivery of services to client groups, covering local, national, foundation, corporate, and state funding environments. Students will be required to explore funding in the social, human, and justice services.

Financial Management for Nonprofit Managers (PAD 6260) 3 creditsThis course covers accounting standards and principles for state and local governments and nonprofit organizations, including fund structure and accounting process.

Program Review and Analysis (PAD 6327) 3 creditsPrerequisite: PAD 6701Analysis of systematic methods for evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of public programs; means for determining the extent to which program administration promotes achievement of program objectives. MPA core course.

Strategic Planning in the Public Sector (PAD 6333) 3 creditsStudy of strategic planning and how to apply that knowledge to real world organizations.

Seminar in Policy Implementation (PAD 6365) 3 creditsThis course examines the political and bureaucratic setting in which public policies are implemented and the political problems in implementation. Emphasis on political constraints of administrative agencies.Public Policy Process (PAD 6385) 3 creditsPrerequisite: PAD 6036This course covers the public policy process, including policy formation and adoption, policy implementation, and evaluation. The course aims to add to the student's knowledge and understanding of policy theory, substantive policy areas, and the role of administrators in the policy process.

Seminar in Public Personnel Administration (PAD 6417) 3 creditsReview of development of public personnel policies and programs with emphasis on changes resulting from new approaches and employee organization. Studies personnel responsibilities of all public managers and employees. MPA core course.

Labor Relations in Government (PAD 6427) 3 creditsStudies the growth of employee organization in the public sector, with particular emphasis on the state and local level. Reviews special problems facing government administration and the effects of employee organization in government administration. MPA core course.

Administrative Ethics (PAD 6436) 3 creditsEthical considerations for professional public administrators operating in the ethos of a republic; situational analysis of conflicts with elected legislative, executive, and judicial officials; professional policy and career goals; and issues of democracy, bureaucracy, and morality in public service. MPA core course.

Seminar in Public, Private, and Nonprofit Enterprise (PAD 6506) 3 creditsAnalysis of the interactions between and among public, private, and nonprofit sectors of the economy with special emphasis on local government.

Administrative Law and Procedures (PAD 6605) 3 creditsA survey and analysis of the law concerning the rule-making and adjudicatory powers and procedures of administrative agencies and the effect such rules have on the delivery of services by federal, state, and local government. MPA core course.

Regulation (PAD 6612) 3 creditsThe course analyzes how and why bureaucracies develop regulations and the role that regulations play in the policy process with a focus on the economic, political, administrative, and social factors that influence regulatory choices and the impacts of those regulations. MPA core course.

Applied Methods 1 (PAD 6701) 3 creditsPrerequisite: Undergraduate statistics or permission of instructorA study of the statistical methods, techniques, and procedures used in the analysis of public sector data, with emphasis on computer analysis. MPA core course.

Seminar in Computer Systems in Public Administration (PAD 6714) 3 creditsAnalysis of the role of computer systems in public agencies. Emphasis is placed on systems studies, design, development, implementation, and maintenance.

Survey Research in the Public Sector (PAD 6727) 3 creditsWithin the public and nonprofit sectors, survey research skills have become essential due to the necessity of gathering primary data. Course focus here is on students learning a set of skills to assist them in completing survey research in their professional fields.

Local Government Administration (PAD 6807) 3 creditsAnalysis of the performance of urban agencies, alternative strategies for improving service delivery and management, and strategies for effective change in the public sector.

Intergovernmental Administration (PAD 6826) 3 creditsStudies both theoretical and practical aspects of administration of federalism, including distribution and use of shared revenue funds. Review practices as well as principles pursued in both competitive and cooperative interjurisdictional patterns.

Public Procurement Concepts and Practices (PAD 6855) 3 creditssThis course provides an overview of public procurement as a basic functional area of government. Specific focus on the scope of public procurement, including organizational structure, regulations, process and methods, and current issues in public procurement.

Public Procurement and Project Management (PAD 6856) 3 creditsCourse covers each phase of the public procurement project cycle, with an emphasis on tools and techniques to manage a public procurement project.

Public Sector Procurement Law and Ethics (PAD 6857) 3 creditsCourse surveys the ethics and law pertaining to federal government procurement, including analysis of the unique features of government contracting.

Public Sector Contract Formulation (PAD 6858) 3 creditsCourse covers all phases of the contract formulation process with a focus on the RFP and RFB procedure, documents, and other technical issues.

Public Sector Contract Administration (PAD 6859) 3 creditsCourse provides an in-depth study of contract administration with a focus on all activities in the postaward phase of the contract process.

Directed Independent Study (PAD 6907) 1-3 credits Prerequisite: Permission of instructorReading and research in a field of public administration; a course to be selected with the consultation of and approved by the MPA Coordinator.

Special Topics (PAD 6931) 3 creditsStudy relating to special issues in Public Administration.

Government Internship (PAD 6941) 3 creditsA diversified work experience in management or staff positions in federal, state, or local government or in a nonprofit organization providing public service.

Internship-Nonprofit Organizations (PAD 6943) 3 creditsStudents without prior work experience in nonprofit organizations must complete an internship. The University will place the student in a nonprofit organization for 15 weeks.

Doctoral Courses

Intellectual Development of Public Administration (PAD 7005) 3 creditsPrerequisite: PAD 6053 or permission of instructorExamines the conceptual and historical sources of public administration, including the intellectual history of the discipline. PhD core course

Scope and Theory of Public Administration (PAD 7050) 3 creditsPrerequisite: PAD 7005 or permission of instructorA capstone seminar for doctoral students, focusing on the models of public administration and their applications. The course content will include an assessment of historical and current normatives and descriptive theories of public administration.

Norms of Inquiry in Public Administration and Public Policy (PAD 7138) 3 creditsLogic of knowledge—its behavioral, explanatory, critical, and interpretive modes. Multiple paradigms of knowledge building and inquiry to assess their relevance to knowledge building in public affairs and governance.

Organizational Behavior and Development (PAD 7155) 3 creditsPrerequisite: PAD 7107 or permission of instructorA study of the individual behavior in the organization at the micro and macro levels and of the strategies and methods intended to change the attitudes, values, and structures or organizations so that they can better adapt to new technology, markets, and challenges.

Advanced Public Budgeting and Fiscal Management Techniques (PAD 7229) 3 credits Prerequisite: PAD 6207 and PAD 6227 or equivalentThe literature of public budgeting, contributions from political science, economics, accounting, public administration, and other relevant literature. Literature and standards of the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) and their contribution to public budgeting and public finance, models and theories of public budgeting, and empirical research are covered.

Public Expenditure Analysis (PAD 7240) 3 creditsPrerequisite: PAD 6227 or PAD 6230 or equivalentReview of fiscal policy theories, issues of taxation, expenditure, national debt, international public finance, and development finance are explored in the framework of economic growth/stabilization, distribution, and equity. Ph.D. core course.

Advanced Quantitative Analysis (PAD 7703) 3 creditsPrerequisite: PAF 7800 or equivalentFocuses on a number of advanced statistical, modeling, and operations research methods and their application in the field of public administration. Particular attention will be given to applications in the area of public budgeting, personnel administration, and public policy analysis. Ph.D. core course.

Advanced Research Seminar in Public Affairs (PAD 7707) 3 credits Prerequisite: PAD 7703Analysis of public administration research methods, materials, and techniques. The course will provide the graduate student with guidance in the preparation of data analysis strategies and alternative designs for research questions and dissertation projects. The course will emphasize both quantitative and qualitative approaches to problem solving. Ph.D. core course.

Directed Independent Study (PAD 7907) 1-3 creditsPrerequisite: Permission of instructor, approval of the Ph.D. CoordinatorReading and research in a selected field of Public Administration at the doctoral level.

Advanced Research and Study (PAD 7910) 3-9 creditsConcentration course for students writing a qualifying paper, sitting for examinations, or preparing a dissertation proposal.

Special Topics (PAD 7931) 3 creditsStudy relating to special problems in Public Administration at the doctoral level.

Advanced Public Policy (PAD 7932) 3 creditsThis course is a doctoral seminar in public policy theory and practice. The focus of the seminar is on trends in policy inquiry, policy analysis and evaluation, and policy formation and implementation. PhD core course

Practicum in Public Administration (PAD 7943) 1-3 creditsCovers role and responsibilities of the public administration teacher and scholar at the university level. Grading: S/U

Quantitative Methods in Public Affairs Research (PAF 7800) 3 creditsThis course acquaints students with the fundamental concepts necessary for advanced statistical analysis of public affairs research. It emphasizes characteristics of distributions and random variables, diagnostic techniques, the tests of assumptions of each analysis and the consequences of violating them. Special attention is given to data analysis, decision-making, and report writing in the public sector.

Qualitative Methods in Public Affairs Research (PAF 7820) 3 creditsA seminar designed to acquaint students with the application of qualitative research protocols in public affairs research. Various research technologies are presented and critiqued, with particular emphasis on their applicability to public affairs research. PhD. core course.